WW I replica planes touch down in P.E.I.

Islanders are in for a special treat this weekend as First World War replica planes are on display at the Summerside and Charlottetown airports.

The aircraftswill be flying all across Canada as part of VimyFlight, a Canada 150 celebration.

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Allan Snowie is the team leader for Vimy Flight not to be mistaken for the formation leader and said this event is a way for a whole new generation to become familiar with this event in history.

"Vimywas my grandfather's war and we're bringing it back to our grandchildren," said Snowie.

The planes are exact replicas of the ones used in the Battle of Vimy Ridge, and Snowie calls them the most advanced fighter of 1916.

"It was one the first allied aircraftsto be able to fire over the propeller," he said."It brings to mind just how primitive aircraft was in World War I."

There will be four planes on display that are being flown by ex-military fighter pilots and former Snowbirds.

The SummersideAirport was asked to host the event because of its history as a former CFB base.

"It's going to be historical for sure," said LarryGaudet, director of training development atSlemonPark Corporation. "People will be able to go right up to [the planes]."

'I got quite choked up'

The planes on display are the same ones that recently flew over theVimyRidge monument in France to commemorate the100thanniversary of the battle.

"It finally struck home to me what it meant when we got to Vimy. I did the first test flight which was done over Vimy Ridge. Much to my surprise I got quite choked up," said Snowie.

"That's when I realized, looking down on that magnificent monument, what an enterprise that it is, Vimy Ridge. What a capture."

Snowiesaid he hopes this event will inspire a new generation of aviation.

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